Music-desk for pianos



(No' Model.)

M. J. CHASE. MUSIC DESK FOR PIANOS'.

Patented Apr. 15, 1884.

UNITED STATES PATENT (lrrrcn.

MILO J. CHASE, OF RICHMOND, INDIANA.

MUSIC-DESK FOR PIANOS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 296,726, dated April 15, 1884.

Application filed August 14, 1883. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MILo J. CHASE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Richmond, Indiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Music-Desks for Pianos, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to folding music-racks for upright pianos, its object being to improve the construction and render the same more convenient for use.

To this end it consists in the construction and arrangement of the music rack or desk of an upright piano, as hereinafter more fully described.

Accompanying this specification are drawings exhibiting my invention, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of so much of the piano-framing as includes the folding musicrack, and showing a preferred construction of the latter. Fig. 2 is a similar elevation exhibiting a slight modification in the attachment of the hinge. Figs. 3 and 4 are similar elevations exhibiting modified forms of construction.

In the drawings, A designates one of the uprights constituting that portion of the framing of the piano above the finger-board, or, more properly, the front wall of the pianocase, which is usually made removable. Two such uprights A constitute the side bars between which the folding music-rack is arranged. The corresponding inner faces of the bars A are provided with vertical slots to of sufficient length to permit of the movement of the rack, which is hereinafter described.

In the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the rack proper, B, is provided at its upper corners with pins 19, projecting outward at opposite directions, and these are pivoted loosely in blocks 0, arranged to slide freely in the slots a, so that by this connection the rack has a limited vertical movement in the slots, and also a pivotal movement by means of its pinconnections.

In Fig. 1 the rack B is pivoted at the bottom by a rule-joint connection to a folding shelf, D, which in turn is pivoted by a similar connection to the horizontal brace E of the framing above the finger-board, or, as shown in Fig. 2, to sides of the uprights A. By this connection, when the outer edge of the shelf D is elevated it folds back upon its pivot, also raising and carrying back the rack B, so that when closed the parts fold together and occupy an approximately vertical position, flush with the general surface of the casing. When the parts are drawn forward for use, they occupy the positions indicated in the drawings, and they are sustained in such positions by the sliding block 0 having reached its lower limit of movement in the slot at, and by the arrangement of the rule-joint connection between the rack B and the shelf D. I

The modification shown in Fig. 2 relates only to the point of attachment to the shelf D and the piano-casing. In the modification shown in Fig. 3, however, the rack is suspended permanently upon fiXed pivots p, and the shelf D connected at its inner end with the uprights A by a pin-andslot connection, such as before described. In this case when the outer edge of the shelf D is elevated, the rack B acts as a fulcrum, and the inner edge of the shelf moves downward in the slots. In the modification shown in Fig. 4. the rack is hung upon permanent pivots, as before, but is united with the shelf by means of a pinand-slot connection with segment-plates s, attached at each end of the shelf D. The slots are arranged radially to the pivot-connection of the shelf D with the piano-casing A, and at an angle of about forty-five degrees to the plane of the shelf. The construction will readily appear upon Fig. 4, and requires no further description. These modifications I regard as equivalents to the construction first described, but I prefer the former.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A music-rack for upright pianos, consisting of a rack pivoted in the upright frame and to a ledge also pivoted in the frame, the connection being such as to permit the rack and ledge to be folded together in a vertical 5 plane when out of use, substantially as set forth.

2. In a piano music-rack, the rack B, pivoted by a sliding connection to the pianoframe, in combination with a ledge, D, pivoted to the piano-frame and swinging outward, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. I

MILO J. CHASE.

Witnesses:

L. M. HOSEA, S. OSBORNE. 

